MOD and TOD (video format)

MOD and TOD are recording formats for use in digital tapeless camcorders. The format is comparable to AVCHD.

Overview

MOD and TOD are informal names of tapeless video formats used by JVC (MOD and TOD), Panasonic (MOD only) and Canon (MOD only) in some models of digital camcorders. Format names correspond to extensions of video files. Neither JVC nor Panasonic, who pioneered the format, explained meaning of the file extensions. MOD is used exclusively for standard definition video files, while TOD is used for high definition files. The formats was never given an official name.

First camcorders that used MOD format appeared in 2005. JVC introduced Everio GZ-MG30, which was recording directly to internal hard disk drive. Panasonic unveiled SDR-S100, which recorded to SD cards. Codec type, data rates, frame rate and frame size closely matched parameters of DVD-video.

In January 2007 JVC announced its first high definition tapeless consumer camcorder, Everio GZ-HD7, which could record 1080i MPEG-2 video to either built-in hard disk drive or an SD memory card. Data rates, frame rate and frame size matched or exceeded parameters of HDV video. [cite web|url=http://digitalcontentproducer.com/cameras/revfeat/jvc_gzhd7_mpeg2_090707/index.html|title=JVC GZ-HD7: World’s First 1920x1080 MPEG-2 Camcorder] This format is known as TOD.

In January 2008 Canon unveiled a family of tapeless standard definition consumer camcorders: the FS100, FS10 and FS11. All these camcorders record in MOD format.

Neither Panasonic nor Canon have ever released a consumer high definition camcorder with TOD recording format. Instead, Panasonic joined Sony to develop AVCHD. Canon supported AVCHD format by releasing its first AVCHD camcorder in 2007.

Both MOD and TOD are file-based formats that are stored on a random-access media. Directory structure and naming convention are identical except for extensions of media files.

Standard definition video is stored in MPEG-2 program stream container files with MOD extension; in most other systems these files have extension MPG or MPEG. High definition video is stored in MPEG-2 transport stream container files with TOD extension; in most other systems these files have M2T extension. [cite web|url=http://www.avchduser.com/articles/JVC_Everio_mod_files.jsp|title=Working with JVC Everio MOD and TOD files]

The file structure is unique to this video recording format, though the directory for still images located on the root level is called DCIM, following a standard agreed upon by many still camera manufacturers. [cite web|url=http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/digCam/dc240/ownerManual/ch77.shtml|title=KODAK Digital Camera: Navigating to Your Pictures]

Standard definition video can be recorded in 4:3 and 16:9 formats, but the latter is not correctly identified in media file header, so video may appear squeezed horizontally when viewed. Software that is shipped with camcorders is capable of processing aspect ratio correctly by using metadata stored in MOI files. There are also third-party tools for setting the wide-screen flag in media file header. [cite web|url=http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=132937|title=New version of SDcopy.exe available] [cite web|url=http://m0sia.ru/files/sdcopy.py|title=Linux python script to work with mod files]

MOD video can be watch on a computer with a player that is capable of reproducing MPEG-2 video. This video can be easily authored for watching on a DVD player without recompression, as it is fully compliant with DVD-video standard.

TOD format is comparable with AVCHD, but cannot be directly played on consumer video equipment. Media files must be packaged into distribution formats like HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc, using authoring software. One of TOD recording modes, "1440CBR", has the same frame size, aspect ratio and frame rate as 1080i HDV, and can be loosely called "HDV on disk".

Products

JVC MOD camcorders

* 2005: GZ-MG30 (HDD), GZ-MG70 (HDD)
* 2006: GZ-MG37 (HDD), GZ-MG77 (HDD), GZ-MG505 (HDD, SD/SDHC card)
* 2007: GZ-MG130 (HDD), GZ-MG155 (HDD), GZ-MG255 (HDD), GZ-MG555 (HDD, SD/SDHC card)

JVC TOD camcorders

* 2007: GZ-HD7 (HDD, SD/SDHC card), GZ-HD3 (HDD, SD/SDHC card)
* March 2008: GZ-HD5 (HDD, MicroSDHC card), GZ-HD6 (HDD, MicroSDHC card)
* June 2008: GZ-HD30, GZ-HD40 (HDD, MicroSDHC card, dual TOD and AVCHD recording)

Panasonic MOD camcorders

* 2005: SDR-S100 (SD card)
* 2006: SDR-S150 (SD/SDHC card)
* 2007: SDR-S10 (SD/SDHC card), SDR-H200 (HDD, SD/SDHC card)
* 2008: SDR-H40 (HDD), SDR-H60 (HDD)
* 2008: SDR-SW20 (SD/SDHC card)

Canon MOD Camcorders

* 2008: FS100 (SDHC), FS10 (SDHC), FS11 (SDHC)

Specifications

References

External links

[http://www.benzmodz.com/html/jvc_workflow.htm JVC file format TOD / MOD / MPG conversion using Everio Software]

ee also

* AVCHD: tapeless high definition format
* HDV: tape-based high definition format
* DV: tape-based standard definition format